“Planned Parenthood applauds President Obama for investing in health care programs that work, including the Title X family planning program and teen pregnancy prevention programs.

“President Obama’s 2011 budget provides more than $327 million to the Title X family planning program, an increase of $9.86 million over the previous year.

“While we welcome the increase in Title X funding, we hope to work with Congress to build on this funding, particularly as Americans continue to deal with difficult economic times. Health centers, like ours, are seeing an increase in the number of women seeking basic preventive care, while at the same time coping with stagnant funding.

“Title X is a vital component of the health care safety net and one of our nation’s most effective programs in reducing unintended pregnancies and providing women’s health care to those who need it the most.

“With more than 17 million women in need of publicly funded family planning care, now is the time to further strengthen our investment. Such an investment will provide more women with family planning and basic preventive health care, including lifesaving screenings for breast, cervical and other cancers.

“The president’s 2011 budget also invests in evidence-based sex education and allocates more than $133.6 million for medically accurate teen pregnancy prevention programs, an increase of $19.2 million from last year. Studies show that comprehensive sex education programs are effective in reducing teen pregnancy rates. Our shared goal must be to reduce both the unacceptably high rate of teenage pregnancies in this country and the alarming number of sexually transmitted infections. With at least one in four teenage girls being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection, and the recent Guttmacher Institute study showing an increase in the teenage pregnancy rate, we clearly must provide medically accurate, age appropriate sex education for our teens.”

DETAILS ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S 2011 BUDGET:

FAMILY PLANNINGPresident Obama’s budget provides a modest $9.86 million increase in the Title X program, the nation’s family planning program, for a total of $327 million. The Title X family planning program provides basic health care to more than five million women and families. In 2008, an estimated 20 percent of all women of reproductive age were uninsured, and the proportion has undoubtedly increased over the past year. As a result, financially strapped women in need of reproductive care are increasingly turning to women’s health centers. In fact, six in 10 women who access care from a family planning health center consider it to be their primary source of health care, yet these health centers continue to be woefully underfunded. Investing in the Title X program also saves money. According to the Guttmacher Institute, every public dollar invested in Title X helps save $4.02 in Medicaid-related costs.

SEX EDUCATIONPresident Obama’s budget provides $133.6 million for “evidence-based” teen pregnancy prevention programs, an increase of $19.2 million from last year. Of that, $85 million is designated for proven effective programs to reduce teen pregnancy and $28 million is slotted for research and development of new and innovative strategies for preventing teen pregnancy.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.